A paver patio has two sand jobs, and people mix them up: a 1-inch bedding layer the pavers sit on, and the joint sand swept between them at the end. Most of the volume is the bedding layer, and it is easy to estimate. This guide does the math, then points to the sand calculator.
The bedding layer is about 1 inch
The leveling sand the pavers rest on should be a uniform 1 inch over the compacted gravel base. Resist the urge to use it to fix grade — thick bedding sand lets pavers settle and rut. Depth and strength come from the base below; the sand only fine-levels.
Estimating the bedding sand
Volume is area × depth. Convert the 1-inch depth to feet (1 ÷ 12 ≈ 0.083 ft):
- 100 sq ft × 0.083 ft ≈ 8.3 cubic feet
- That is about 17 half-cubic-foot bags, or roughly a third of a cubic yard
For a bigger patio, bulk sand by the cubic yard is usually cheaper than bags. The sand calculator gives cubic yards, tons, and bag counts from your area and depth so you can compare the two routes.
Don't forget the joint sand
After the pavers are set, sand is swept into the joints to lock them in place. Polymeric sand is the common choice because it hardens and resists weeds and washout. Joint sand coverage depends on paver thickness and joint width, so use the bag's coverage chart — it is a separate, smaller purchase from the bedding layer.
The base under the sand
Below the bedding sand is the layer that does the structural work: 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed-stone base for a patio or walkway, more for a driveway. If you skip or skimp on it, the pavers will settle no matter how carefully you screed the sand. Estimate it with the paver base calculator.
The full paver sandwich
From the bottom up: compacted subgrade, compacted gravel base, 1 inch of bedding sand, the pavers, then joint sand swept on top. Get the base and the 1-inch sand layer right and the patio stays flat for years.
FAQ
How much sand do I need for pavers?
For the bedding layer, plan a 1-inch sand layer over the compacted base. One inch over 100 square feet is about 8.3 cubic feet, or roughly 17 half-cubic-foot bags. Joint sand to fill the gaps between pavers is a separate, smaller amount.
What kind of sand goes under pavers?
Use coarse, sharp concrete or bedding sand for the leveling layer — not fine play sand, which shifts. For the joints between pavers, polymeric sand hardens to lock the pavers and resist weeds and washout.
How thick should the paver sand layer be?
The bedding sand layer should be about 1 inch and uniform. Thicker sand is not better — too much bedding sand lets pavers settle unevenly. The structural depth belongs in the compacted gravel base below, not the sand.
Is bedding sand the same as joint sand?
No. Bedding sand is the 1-inch leveling layer the pavers sit on. Joint sand (often polymeric) is swept into the gaps after the pavers are set. You usually buy both, in different amounts.